Mining machine



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13 Sheets-Sheet J0 Dmmvtov, Edmund 8171151 701 E. C. MORGAN MINING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1914 13 Sheets-Sheet l1 /IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIII g 33 EdmzzdflMzyaza 11 hereinafter.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND c. onenn, or onroneo, intrnors; .omvn museum MORGAN EXEoU'rmX .Q L EDMUND nosean, nnonasnn.

Application fuled Em ly -6,

To all whom 5-2, may concern;

Be it known that I, EDMUND C. Moseau. a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented. certain new and useful improvements in Mining lslachines, of which the following is a specification.

Lily-invention relates to mining mach es and has more particular reterence to unprovements in machines for mining coal and the like.

One of the objects or my invention flS to provide an improved machine of this character which will be simple, durable and rehable in construction and veitiective and .etticient in operation.

Another object of my inventionis to provide improred cutting mechanism for use in connection with machines of the type which constitutes the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 419,071, filed July (5, 1 91 1.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of cutt ng mechanism for machines of the type constituting the subject matter of said co-pending application whereby a plural ty of blocks of co al may be simultaneously out or severed from the ein or mass thereof. j

Other objects of my invention will appear deferring to the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an improved construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in 1.

Fig. 3 is longtudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is a transverse 4E4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse Fig. 6 is a transverse 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a: side elevation of the forward portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3,

section onthe line section on the line section on the line showing the side cutting mechanism andthe portion of the top cutting mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of'a portion of. one of the chain cutters;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line 9'9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direc-. tion of the arrows; I

Fig. 10 is a top plan view similar to Fig.

1914. Serial No. 849,018.

1, of a modified construction adapted for the cutting of a plurality of blocks simultaneously.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substarr tially transversely of Fig. 10 on the line 1111 thereof, and

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line 1-212 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a rear end elevation of the sup porting mechanism of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4t and 5;

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the lower rear portion of the supporting frame shown in Fig. 13.;

Fig.- 15 is a substantially horizontal sectional plan View of the supporting structure shown in Fig. 13 and of the plane kcrt-cutting apparatus;

Fig. 1.6 is a transverse vertical section of the structure looking rearwardly;

Fig. 17 is a transverse detail section of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 15, showing the driving mechanism for the plane kerf cutter;

Fig. 18 is av detail view, partly in section, showing further details of the driving mech ani-sm tor the plane herf cutter shown in Fig, 15;

Fig. 19 shows a longitudinal sectional elevation of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4; and 5, together with supporting frame work therefor;

Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 19 on the line 20-20loolring forward in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 19, illustrating the lower position of the cutt mechanism'and of the chute in dotted lines.

Inv my copending application above re ferred to I have shown, described and claimed a mining machine wherein cuttingmechanism goes forward and cuts or severe a block of coal from the mass or vein thereof, and wherein the severed block is re moved from its original position with respect to the vein and discharged or deposited in a'chute or guiding structure out of the way of the cutting mechanism whereby said cutting mechanism will be free to out another block thus making the machine a constantly operating one performing the functions of cutting hloclrs of coal and removing them in a single operation. In the said machine, a complete understanding of which may be had by reference to said co-pending application, the cutting mechanismbodily moves in an arcuate path and .the chute or receiving structure is arcuately aligned with the line of movement of the cutting mechanism. In the present invention I maintain the same principles of operation and function as involved in said copending application but I provide in the present case a modified form of cutting mechanism adaptable to the type of mining machine involved in said co-pending application and possessing certain features of adjustment. In the present invention I also arrange the cutting n'iechanism so that a plurality of blocks of coal maybe simultaneously cut. In the present drawings I have merely shown and'will describe sufficient structure of the machine in said co-pending application as to enable one skilled in the art to understand my present invention, and reference may be had to said co-pending application for a complete understanding of the parts of said complete machine not shown in the present drawings. Referring to Figs. 1 to 9 the curved or arcuate chute or receiving structure of said other machine is illustrated at A. This receiving chute is arcuately curved, rectangular in section, and embodies the side walls 1 and top and bottom walls 2 and 3. The forward-end of the chute is open but the bottom wall (Fig. 3), as is seen, extends forward between the side cutting mechanism toa point substan tially flush with the top cutting chain. Operating on each side of the chute at the forward end thereof are side cutting mechanisms B. These cutting mechanisms are bodily movable in planes substantially parallel with the side walls 1 of the chute but they move bodily in an arcuate pathwhich is preferably substantially in arcuate alignment with the curvature of the chute A, hence they will cut parallel kerfs in the Vein C of coal. Thus they define the width of the block of coal which is to be cut. Each of these side cutting mechanisms involves a flat elongated frame 4 around the periphcry or edge of which a continuous loop cut ting chain 5 travels. These chains may be of any suitable or standard construction and are preferably of the link construction. No further description of them is necessary except to say that theyare provided with a plurality of cutting knives or bits 6 adapted 1 to cut a kerf wide enough to admit the chain and frame 4. These cutting mechanisms are mounted upon a common frame 7 which extends across the machine beneath the chute A and is provided with depending loops 8. so to speak, at each side. This common frame 7 is simply attached by bolts 9 or otherwise, to a shiftable frame 10, but these depending lug 12 which carries an adjusting bolt 13. This bolt is threaded through a lug 14 on the frame 10 and a nut 15 positioned on each side of said lug for lock ing the parts in their adjusted position, it being understood, of. course, that the lug 14 (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) passes througha suitable slot 16 to allow for said adjustment of the frame 7. The driving of the cutting chains 5 is accomplished through the medium of a transverse shaft 17 and sprockets 18 keyed on said shaft adjacent the ends thereof. The chains 5, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6, pass around these sprockets and mesh therewith whereby they are driven. The shaft 17 is journaled in bearings in the inner sides of the loop portions 8 of said frame 7 and is also journaled in bushings 19 at its outer ends. These bushings have enlarged heads (Figs. 6 and 7) which are setv in correspondingly shaped sockets or bearings in the outer side portions of the loops 8 of frame 7 so that said hearings or bushings 19 may be readily rotated relatively to the loops 8 to adjust the positions of the cutter bars B. They are provided with'holes 20 for engagement by a suitable tool for rotating said bearings and the bearings may be locked or fastened in any position to which they are rotatedby means of set screws 21. The inner ends of the cutting mechanism frames 4 are offset laterally with respect to the main portions of said frames and are provided with elongated slots 22 (Fig. 6) through which the bearings or bushings 19 pass. These slots permit of a longitudinal adjustment of the frames 4 for the purpose of tightening or loosening the cutting chains 5 or the renewal of links in said chain.

The bushings or bearings 19 carry threaded bolts which pass through holes in the ends or cross pieces 23 of the cutting mechanism frame 5 and on each side of these cross pieces are nuts 24. Thebushings 19, of course, are squared (Fig. 7) so that they will slide relatively to the frame 4. Thus the frames 4 are locked to the bushings 19 so that by rotat ing said bushings 19 the cutting mechanisms may be rotarily adjusted about the shaft 17 as a center, and by means of this construction the chains may also be tightened or loosened, as desired. The rotary adjustment of the cutting mechanism about the shaft 17 possesses considerable advantage with respeot to the cutting of the kerfs. It will be ren'iembered that these cutting mechanisms are intended to be moved bodily in an arcuate path which is preferably aligned with the curvature of the chute A. The bodily movement of .the cutting mechanism, however, need not necessarily be in an are which is of the same radius as the arc of the chute A for the reason that the center of the arc on which the chute is disposed may be above or below the floor line of the mine. Hence. the cutting mechanism must be adjusted so that at the end of its forward stroke or out ting stroke it will occupy a position sul stantially parallel with the floor of the mine. This is true even if the cutting mechanism is bodily moved on an are which has the same center as the arc onwhich the chute is disnosed for the reason that the machine might be constructed with said two cent coincident and located above the floor of as mine as it is in the present drawings. As before stated, the cutting mechanisms through the medium of the fldll'lfi T are mounted upon the frame 16} and by shifting this frame bodily, a bodily movement or reciprocation of the cutting mechanisms is obtained. Before describing the mechanism for driving or shifting this frame T will describe the mechanisms for, driving the cutting chains 5. rhccordin to Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7, it will be seen that tl-ie shaft 17 carries a beveled gear which is driven by a correspondingly beveled gear on the end of a short shaft which .is iournaled in the frame 7. Journaled in suitable bearings 33 on the frame 10 is a longitudinally disposed shaft 34 (Fig. and between this shaft 34 and the short shaft 32 (Fig. 3) is a universal joint one member 36 of which has an elongated squared socket. In this squared socket is a correspondingly squared shank on the end of the short shaft 32. The universal oint 35 and the extensible driving connection embodying the squared socket portion 36 and squared shank 3i", constitute a completely flexible connection between the shaft and the short shaft 32 which readily permits any of the above described adjust ments for the cutting mechanisms to be made. A large gear 89 is loosely mountedon the shaft 34 and is driven from a small pinion d0 (Fig.2) on the armature shaft of a suitable driving motor 41011 the frame 10. This gear 39 is adapted to be connected with or disconnected from the shaft 34 by means of a suitable clutch 42. and when connected to the shaft by said clutch will drive said shaft and hence the cutting mechanisms. The clutch is provided so that the cutting mechanism may be operated at will and any suitable or desired means may be employed for shifting the clutch 4-2. Rising from the frame 10 on each side of the chute A is a pair of arms which are bridged or spanned at their upper ends above :the chute by a bridge member or beam The two arms l5 and the bridge 46 thus constitute an open frame which embraces or surrounds a chute A and this frame carries the upper cutting mechanism D which is disposed at substantially right angles to the planes of operation of the side cutters B. This cutting mechanism D lies close to the upper side or wall 2 of the chute 8 and it is preferably curved on an arc concentric with the arc of curvature of the chute A so as to be parallel to said wall 2. The forward end of this cutting mechanism extends a little beyond the side cutters B and the rear end of said cutting mechanism D is attached to the loop frame which embodies the arms 15 and bridge member 46 and which will. be hereinafter referred to by the letter E. The frame 50 of the cutting mechanism D is preferably in the form of an elongated curved plate. around the perimeter of which an endless cutting chain 51 travels. At the forward corners of the frame 50 are sprocket wheels around which the chain passes. These sprockets are for the purpose of taking the thrust on the cutting chain and at the same time rendering the chain free running at these points. The chain. may be of anysuib able construction for the purpose.

In the construction shown (Figs. 1, 8 and 9.) the chain is composed of a plurality of links '53, alternate links having outstanding holders 54 for the cutting blades or bits Each of these holders has an angularly disposed socket for the reception of the shanks of the cutting bits 55 so as to hold said 'cutting hits at an angle. Alternate cutting bits on the chain are inclined or disposed in the same direction. They are removably held in their sockets by means of set screws 56. The chain runs on the perimeter or edge of the frame plate 50 in a groove formed by extending a portion 50 of the frame beyond the :main edge portion. This chain cutter is covered in my coiending application Serial No. 860.371, filed Sep tember 5, 1914, and No. 12,766) filed March 8, 19 15, and No. 848,728 filed July 5;, if- 14. This construction holds the chain against lateral movement in one direction with respect to the frame 50. Lateral movement of the chain in the other direction is prevented by forming the bit holders 5% with overhanging portions 57 which are adapted to run in a groove 58 formed in the extreme outer edge of the extension portion 50 of. same frame 50, as shown in Figs. Sand 9. The extension portion 50 is formed flush.

so to speak, with the under 'or inner face of the frame 50, hence it provides in a sense a shelf or ridge on which the chain runs or travels. By this construction it is readily seen that thechain cannot become accidentally displaced with respect to the frame.

ill)

Depending from the under side of the bridge member 46 of loop frame E are two hangers 60 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4:), in the form of shafts and these hangers are connected,

at their lower ends, to a cross beam or memmember 61 has a pair of slots 62 through which the bolts 63 pass, thus providing means for clamping the frame to the bridge member 61 and and at the same time allowing for its adjustment relative thereto. The reduced end of the frame 50 has an upstanding lug 64; (Fig. 3) which passes through a central slot 65 in the offset portion of bridge member 61, and the offset portion of bridge member 61 also has an upstanding lug 66 aligned with the lug 65. An adjusting bolt 67 passes through both of these lugs by means of which the tightening or loosening of the chain may be accomplished. The shafts 60 carry sprocket wheels 68 around which the chain 51 passes and through the medium of one of which the chain is driven. One of these sprockets 68 has a bevel gear .69 formed therewith and this gear is connected with a corresponding gear 70 on a short transverse shaft 71. This shaft 71 is driven from a vertical shaft 7 2 through the medium of a pair of bevel gears 73 (Fig. 4). The shaft 7 2 extends upward along one side of the chute and adjacent one of the arms 45 of the frame E. At its lower end this shaft carries a bevel gear 74;

which is driven by a corresponding gear 75 on a short transverse shaft journaled in the bearing 76 of the under side of the frame 10 This latter shaft is driven from the main shaft 342 (Fig. 2) by means of the intermeshing bevel gears 77. By means of the shafts and gears just described power is transmitted from the main shaft 34c to the upper cutting chain or mechanism D.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the plate D is in the form of a segment of a cylinder, since its surfaces are parallel spaced-apart segmental cylindrical surfaces. The cutter chain 51 travels around the perimeter of the cutter frame D to form a curved kerf cutter which is capable of cutting .a kerf of substantial width and of a thickness which is narrow compared with the width of the plate and which is only slightly greater than the thickness of the plate, thus reducing the cuttings to a minimum while providing sufiicient clearance for free movement of the plate in feeding direction. By such segmental cylindrical chain kerf cutter when fed into a mine Wall on the center of the curvature of the plate or cutter frame D a segmental cylindrical kerf may be produced of substantial width and comparatively narrow in thickness. I

As before mentioned the frame 10 and the cutting mechanisms D and B carried thereby are adapted to be bodily shifted in an arcuate path to feed said cutting mechan'sms forward and to withdraw them. Heferring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that at the lower edges of the side walls 1 of the chute or receiving structure A, are ribs or flanges 80 (Figs. eland 5) which form guides and supports for the bodily shiftable frame 10, the frame 10 being provided with curved grooves or channels 81 slidably fitting the ribs or flanges 80. The motor pinion 40 drives another large gear 82 which is keyed on a shaft 83 mounted in suitable hearings on the under side of the frame 10. This shaft carries a pinion 84: which is adapted to be connected with or disconnected from the shaft by means of a clutch 85 (Fig. 2). \Vhen connected with the shaft 83 the pinion 84 drives a gear 86 on another shaft 87 journaled in suitable hearings on the frame 10. This shaft 87 carries a worm 38 at one end, which drives a worm gear 89 on a transverse shaft 90. The transverse shaft 90 has a gear 91 at each end which meshes with and is adapted to travel along a curved toothed rack 92 positioned at the lower or under edge of each side wall of the chute A (Figs. 3, 4t and 5). This driving mechanism which I have just described is adapted to feed the frame 10 and hence the cutting mechanisms B and D forward for their cutting stroke. This forward or cutting stroke must necessarily be at a coinparatively slow speed but the return stroke, during which the block of coal is removed by the cutting mechanism. as fully described in my aforesaid co-pending application, Serial No. 84:9,071, may be made at a quicker speed and I have provided mechanism there fore by which this quick return may be accomplished. The clutch 85 is a two-way clutch, having a neutral position, and is adapted also to be shifted to connect an internally toothed gear 93 which is normally loose on the shaft 83. This internally toothed gear drives a pinion 94: on the end of shaft 87 and rotates said shaft in the opposite direction and at a greater speed for the return stroke. It is understood, of course, that the clutch 85 may be shifted to connect either the pinion 84 or the internal gear 93 with the shaft but not both of them at the same time. Said clutch may also be shifted to an intermediate or neutral position so that neither of said gears will be connected with the shaft, as clearly shown in Fig. 2'. In my aforesaid copend'ing application 1 have described, el -aimed and shown mecl'ianism by which the cl rute may be clear of blocl'zs of coal at the end of a run or at any other time desired, and have provided mechanism for imparting a quick forward stroke to the cutting mechanisms for this purpose. In the present machine I have also provided means by which this may be accomplisl'ie'd. I provide a gear 95' on the shaft 88 which gear is adapted to be connected with or disconnected from said shatt by means of the clutch 96. This gear when connected to. said shaft drives a pnion 97 on a shaft 98 journaled in bearings on said frame 101 and carryinganotherpinion 99 which meshes with and drives the internal gear 93. These gears are proportioned to drive the frame 10' at a greater speed for ward than the speed required on the cutting stroke thereof. In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 I have illustrated a modificatiol'l of the structure previously described, this modification being adapted for the cutting of a plurality (in this case two) of blocks of coal simultaneously. In this construction I provide a chute or receiving structure A. of substantially twice the width of the chute in the previous views, this chute having a common or intermediate middle wall A This modified structure is built up by combining two single constructionslike that shown in the preceding views, those parts and mechanisms which can be made common to the one duplex machine being so constructed. If two single machines, such as previously described were placed side by side, there would be two side cutters adjacent each other which would operate to out too wide a lre-rf and in consequence I provide a middle or intermediate cutter B common to both chutes, thus the modified construction has three vertical kerf cutters instead of four. The construction of the frames, such as the frames 7 and 10, are widened accordingly.

The mounting of the side cutter B and B are identical to that described in connection with the previous single machines, except that the shaft 17 is proportionately lengthened so as to be common to all three cutting mechanisms. The cutting mechanisms D, however, are each constructed substantially as previously described but they are difierently mounted becausearranged in cylindrical alin-ement with each other and in spaced apart relation so as to cooperate with the three vertical spaced apart cutters. Only one driving mechanism for the several sets of cutting mechanisms is necessary. In other words, the driving mechanism previously describedwill serve equally as well for the duplex machine shown in Figs. 10 to 12, as it will for the single machine previously described, except that another shaft 100, driven through the gear 101 from the shaft on which the bevel gear 77 is mounted, must be added. This shaft 100 extends to the opposite side of the structure where it drives another vertical shaft 102 through the medium of the bevel gears 103. The shaft 102 is operated in the same manner as the shaft 72 previously described, and this shaft 102 in turn drives the additional cutting mechanism D in the same manner that the shaft 72 drives its cutting mechanism. Beneath the intermediate wall A. of the chute there isan intermediate rack 92 and an additional gear meshing therewith on the shaft 90; In the modified construction in Figs. 10 to 12 the reference numerals and letters are the same as: used in connection with the previous single Ina-chine and no confusion will arise. It will be obvious that the machine may be constructed to simultaneously cut any number of blocks of coal desired, but in the drawings I have shown how the mechanism should be constructed and arranged to cut an additional block simultaneously.

Referring to Figs. 13 to 21, it will be seen that the arcuate chute A. is provided with a cylindrical portion 109 at the delivery end of the chute. This cylindrical frame 109' is provided with a circular flange 113 to abut against the forward cylindrical portion 110 of the; main supporting frame 108, when the cylinder 109 is inserted into the cylindrical bearing 110-. The cylindrical frame 109 may be retained in the cylindrical bearing 110' by means of a retaining ring 112. between which and the frame 110- may be interposed a gasket 111.

Mounted on the frame 109 outside of the chute but near the delivery end thereof, as shown in Fig. 13, is an electric motor 114 on the shaft 115 of which is mounted a worm 116 meshing with the worm gear 117. The latter is keyed to ashaft 118 mounted in bearings fixed to the frame 109. On the shaft 118 is a spur gear 119 which meshes with an internal gear 120, as shown more clearly in Fig. 9. It will thus be seen that when the motor 11 1 is operated in one direction or the other, the frame 109 together with the chute A will be rotated on a horizontal axis located at the center of' the cylindrical bearing 110, the apparatus being locked in position by the worm gearing when the motor stops.

Extending forwardly from the frame 109 are spaced-apart guides 121, 121. Between these guides is located a frame 122 which is provided with spacedapart grooves 123, 123 fitting the guides 121, 121". The frame 122 provided with a cross piece 121 through which is threaded a bolt This bolt also extends through a bracket 126 which is secured to the frame 109. Nuts- 12? and 128 may be used for adjusting the position of the frame 122 relatively to the frame 109 and securing the frame 122 in adjusted position.

Pivoted to the frame 122 at 129 is an additional frame 130 which is provided with a longitudinal guideway for the kerf-cutting mechanism comprising the frame 131. On the latter a motor 132 is mounted in position to drive the under cutting kerf-cutter 133 through the gears 134, 135, 137, 138 and 139.

By referring to Fig. 15, it will be seen that provision is made for a slow forward feed of the kerf-cutter and a rapid retraction thereof and that the retraction is effected automatically when the kerf-cutter reaches the limit of its stroke. When the latter is in its initial position the operator may throw the clutch 140 to the left by moving the lever 142 to the right on the pivot 143, the clutch 140 being splined to the shaft 141 so as to rotate therewith. By moving the clutch 140 to the right which may be done by moving the lever 142 on the pivot 143, the gear 144 will be rotated and thereby transmit motion to a transverse shaft 145 through the spur gear 146 and the worm gears 147 and 148. At the ends of the transverse shaft are spur gears 149 which mesh with the spaced-apart racks 150. The clutch 140 is splined to the shaft 141 to rotate therewith.

When the under-cutting kerf-cutter 133 reaches the limit of its movement, the extension 142 of the clutch operating lever will engage the abutment 151 and move the clutch 140 to the left until motion is transmitted to the internal gear 136 with which meshes a gear to the left of the bearing 152 on the shaft 153. The transverse shaft 145 will thus be rotated in the opposite direction and more rapidly to secure quick retraction of the kerf-cutter whenever desired.

Connected rigidly to the frame 130 is a brake sector 154 which is provided with a brake surface 155 having the shape of the segment of a cylinder. Applied to this brake surface is a brake shoe 156 mounted on the brackets 157 and 158 of the frame 122. The brake shoe 156 is applied by the spring 159 and may be released manually by means of the lever 160 pivoted at 161. An abutment 162 is provided to limit the forward movement of the brake sector 154 and thereby also limit the downward movement of the undercutting kerf-cutter when the core-cutter is in the position shown in Fig. 13.

On the shaft 129 on the end opposite the brake sector 154 is a downwardly extending arm 163 which is pivoted to a piston rod 164 connected to a piston 165 in the dash pot 166 which is pivoted at 167 to the frame 122.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the machine is operated as illustrated in Fig. 13, an arcuate core may be cut approximately radial from the center of the upright mine wall toward the floor, roof or either of the side walls, and that whatever the position of the core may be, the kerfcutter can operate to cut off the end of the core at the mine wall. The kerf may also be operated in various other positions by holding the brake applied. After the core has been out completely from the unmined mass by means of the core-cutting mechanism and the plane kerf cutter, the latch 168, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, will automatically engage the catch 169 so that when the core-cutter is retracted along the chute, the plane kerf-cutter will be moved with the kerf-cutter, as illustrated in Fig. 14. When the corecutter reaches the position adjacent the receiving end of the chute, as shown in Fig. 14, the latch lever 170 will engage the cam 171 so as to automatically release the latch so that the plane lierf-cutter may re turn to its initial position. If the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the plane kerf-cutter will return by gravity slowly because retarded by the brake mechanism.

It should be particularly noted that in my copending application, Serial No. 849,071, filed July 6, 1914, for a mining machine, I have described and claimed the plane kerfcutting mechanism above illustrated and described and also the combination thereof with core-cutting mechanism; in said copending application I have also described and claimed the mechanism above described for rotarily mounting the core-cutting mech anism on an approximately horizontal axis. The present application embodies an improvement over said copending application in that instead of using an endless loop chain core-cutter having an unobstructed core-opening therethrough, I have shown and described spaced-apart plane kerf-cut ters spanned by a kerf-cutter which has the shape of the segment of a cylinder and which is capable of cutting a corresponding arcuate kerf. An additional improvement over said copending application is the multiple core-cutting mechanism shown in 10, 11 and 12 and embodying three spaced apart plane kerf-cutters and two arcuate 1 kerf-cutters arranged in lateral or cylindrical alinement, as shown in Fig. 12. Bv means of this arrangement, only one intermediate plane lrerf-cutter is necessary and the cores are separated only by a single kerf which is sufficient to effect movement of the cores into adjacent compartments of the multiple chute. This arrangement also makes the machine compact and enables it to cut adjacent cores simultaneously in a mine wall in a comparatively narrow entry or room in a mine.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art after having obtained an understanding of my invention from. the disclosures herein made, that my invention may be modified Without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and I wish it so understood.

I claim:

1. The combination with frame, of a curved receiving chute carried thereby, a pair of cutting mechanisms on said frame for cutting side kerfs, an additional cutting mechanism supported by said frame and curved to conform to the curvature of the said chute, and means for operating said additional cutting mechanism tocut a kerf intersecting the kerfs cut by said pair of side kerf-cutting mechanisms.

2.. The combination of a curved receiving chute, disposed on an arc, side cutting mechtllsllSHlS spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of said chute, and means for bodily moving said side cutting mechanisms relative to said chute and on the arcuate line on which said chute is disposed.

31., The combination of a receiving chute, disposed on an are, side cutting mechanisms spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of said chute, means for bodily moving said side cutting mechanisms on the arcuate line on which said chute is disposed, and an outer cutting mechanism curved on an arc concentric with the arc of said chute, and means for bodily feeding said outer cutting mechanism in the line of its curvature,

4. The combination of an arc-shaped receiving structure, a cutting mechanism curved to the arc of curvature of said re ceiving structure and adapted to be bodily reciprocated relatively to said receiving structure and on the arcuate line of its curvature, side cutting mecl-iani-sms spaced apart and adapted to cut a kerf intersecting the kerf cut said curved mechanism, and means for bodily moving said side cutting mechanism.

The combination of an arc-shaped receiving structure, a cutting mechanism curved to. the arc of curvature of said receiving structure and adapted be bodily rcreciprocated' on the at'cuate line of its our vatm'e, side cutting mechanisms spaced apart and adapted to. cut a kerf intersecting the lrerf cut by said curved mechanism, means for bodily moving said side cutting mechanism, and means for rotarily adjusting said side cutting mechanisms to vary their angle of operation.

6 The comhiiuitio-u of an are shaped chute, a frame embracing said chute, means for rcciprocatin-g saidframe on a curved line con-forming to the curvature of the, chute, a cutting mechanism supported by said frame and curved to the curvature of the chute, and. a pair of side cutting mechanisms disposed at the sides of said chute beyond the end thereof and mounted upon said frame.

7 The combination of an are shaped chute, a frame embracing said chute, means for reciprocating said frame on a curved line conforming to the curvature of the chute, a cutting mechanism supported by said frame and curved to the curvature of the chute, and a pair of side cutting mechanisms adjustably mounted on said fran and bodily moyable therewith, and means for rotarily adjusting said side cutting mechanisms to vary their angle of operation.

8. The combination of an are shaped chute, a cutting mechanism embodying a curved frame conforming to the arc of ourvature of ea c. chute, and a cutting chain traveling around the perimeter of said curved frame, a pair of side cutting mechanisms spaced apart and operable in planes at an angle With respect to the plane of said first mentioned cutting mechanism, and means for bodily moving said cutting mechanisms.

9. The combination of an are shaped chute, a cutting mechanism embodying a curved frame conforming to the arc of eurvature of said chute, and a cutting chain traveling around the perimeter of said curved frame, a pair of side cutting mechanisms spaced apart and operable in planes at an angle with respect to the plane of said first mentioned cutting mechanism, a main frame supporting said first mentioned cutting mechanism, a sub-frame for said side cutting mechanisms adjustably mounted on said main frame, and means for reciprocating said frames and cutting mechanisms bodily, on an arc conforming to the arc of curvature of the chute.

10', The combination of an arc shap d chute, a cutting mechanism embodying a curved frame conforming to the are of curvaturo of said chute,- and a cutting chain traveling around the perimeter said curved frame, a pair of side cutting mechanisms spaced apart and operable in planes at an angle With res s ct to the plane of said first mentioned cutting mechanism, a frame supporting said first mentioned cutting mechanism, a sub-frame for said side cutting mechanisms adjustably mounted on said plane, means for reciprocating said frame and cutting mechanism bodily on an arc conformto] the arc of curvature of the chute, and means for rotarily adjusting said side out ting mechanisms to vary their angle of op eration.

11. In. a mining machine, the combination with an elongated cutting mechanism curved in the line of its feed, of" a curved frame on which said cutting mechanism is mounted for relative bodily movement, and means for rota-rily adjusting said cutting mechanism With respect to said frame and in the line of its feed.

12. The combination of a curved supporting frame, an elongated, cutting mechanism embodying a curved supporting frame and 

